Netflix’s aggressive advances into original programming have so far included star-studded political dramas (House of Cards), animated sitcoms (BoJack Horseman) and distinctive dramedies (Orange is the New Black), but this winter will see the arrival of what could be the streaming giant’s most ambitious venture yet – Marco Polo.
A big-budgeted historical epic on the scale of Starz’s Da Vinci’s Demons or Showtime’s The Tudors, Marco Polo follows the famed explorer’s early years spent in the court of Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan. Lorenzo Richelmy stars as Polo in a cast that also includes Benedict Wong, Joan Chen and Chin Han.
Unquestionably, the $90 million series, created by John Fusco (Hidalgo), is Netflix’s riskiest bid to date. If it takes off with viewers in the same way that House of Cards and Orange is the New Black have, we could be looking at one of the most talked-about new series of the year. It does look strikingly similar to HBO’s Game of Thrones, attempting to blend sex and violence into one sprawling package, which could work in its favor if the series is good – or completely silence its buzz if it’s not.
Check out the official synopsis below:
Intrigue. Deception. Bloodshed. These are just some of the obstacles awaiting legendary explorer Marco Polo as he navigates the inner court of 13th century ruler, Kublai Khan. From the back alleys of Venice to the perilous Silk Road, from the opulence of the Imperial City to the battlefields of China, Marco Polo is an epic action-adventure, where cultures clash, blood is spilled, and lies are told…
Marco Polo will arrive on Netflix on December 12th, just in time to eat up your Christmas vacation.